As We Were A Sailing

1. As we were a sailing down by the Spanish shore
Where the drums they did beat me boys and loud the cannons roar.
We spied our lofty enemy come cruising down the main,
Which caused us to hoist up our topsails once again.

2. Oh, our captain says, “Be ready,” oh he says, “My boys stand true
To fight the Spanish enemy we lately did pursue.
To fight the Spanish enemy that rove the ocean wide,
And without a good protection, boys, we'll take the first broadside.”

3. Then broadside to broadside to battle then we went
To sink one another it was our full intent.
In the very second broadside our captain he got slain
And a damsel she stood up there in his place to command.
 
4. She was a gallant damsel, a damsel of great fame
She was the Captain’s daughter, and Nancy was her name.
She stood upon the quarter deck and loudly she did bawl
Stand to your guns my British boys, and load the cannon balls.

5. We fought for four hours, for four hours so severe,
We scarcely had a man on board of our ship that could steer.
We scarcely had a man on board could fire off a gun
And the blood from our decks like a river it did run.

6. “For quarters for quarters,” those Spanish lads did cry,
“No quarters, no quarters, this damsel did reply,
You've had the best quarters that we can afford,
You must fight, sink, or swim me boys, or jump overboard.”

7. And so now the battles over, we'll take a glass of wine,
You must drink to your own true love, and I will drink to mine.
Here's a health unto that damsel who fought all on the main,
And here’s to the royal gallant ship The Rainbow by name.